Seroprevalence and Epidemiological Correlates of HTLV-I Infection in U.S. Blood Donors

Abstract

on sera from 39,898 blood donors at ight blood centers in ographicll dict areas of the United States. Ten donors (0.025 percent) showed cvidelcc of HLV-I seropositivity by ezme immunoassays; this was firmed by protin immunuoblot and rioimmunoprecipitation. Seoevalce rates rantd from 0 to 0.10 percent at the locations sampled, with HLV-I antbodies found predominantly in donors from the southeasten and southwestern Unitd Stateb. Matched casc-control interviews and laboratory studics werc peroirmed on five seropositive women and two seropositive mcn who participated in an id -linked collection of sera from a subst of 33,893 donors at six ofthe eight blood centers. Four ofthe women and both men are black; one woman is Caca Four Ofthe sv oot inividuals admitted to prior intravenous drug abuse or sexual contact with an intravenous drug user. Sexual contact with native inhatn ofan HTLV-I endemic area was the only idene risk factor for one male. The distribltion of HTLV-I antibdies in this U.S. blood donor sample corroborates the previous reported pde i of this agent and sug that additional donor screning measures, includisg the tetng of donated bkood for HLV-I markr, may be ne to prevent the spead of HTfV-I to transfsion recipets.U.S. IV drug abusers and the unknown prevalence ofinfecton in the general population, there is increasing concem that asymiptomatic HTLV-I carriers may be present at low levels in the U.S. blood donor pool. Although all volunteer blood donors are highly screened by general health history information, specific exdusion criteria for AIDS risk factors, and laboratory tests for HIV-1 antibodies, hepatitis B surface antgen, antibodies to the hepatitis B core antigen, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and syphilis serology, die efficacy of these measures to exdude HTLV-I carriers is unknown.

Retroviral sequences related to human T-lymphotropic virus type II in patients with chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome.

“…The pronounced reactivity to gag (p19 and p24) and env (gp45-46) in The frequency of these antibodies in CFIDS patients compared with healthy, noncontact controls suggests exposure/infection with an HTLV-like agent rare in healthy noncontact people. Some adult CFIDS patients in the study were from the southeastern United States, where HTLV-I infections are more frequent, but the reported incidence of HTLV seropositivity in blood donors there is only 0.05% (22). More important, the pediatric patients reside in rural upstate New York, where population studies have shown that the HTLV seropositivity rate approaches zero (22).…”

“…Some adult CFIDS patients in the study were from the southeastern United States, where HTLV-I infections are more frequent, but the reported incidence of HTLV seropositivity in blood donors there is only 0.05% (22). More important, the pediatric patients reside in rural upstate New York, where population studies have shown that the HTLV seropositivity rate approaches zero (22).…”

Transmission of Tropical and Geographically Restricted Infections during Solid-Organ Transplantation

“…In areas where the disease is not endemic, such as Europe and North America, HTLV-1 infection is found mainly in immigrants, their offspring and sexual contacts, sex workers, and intravenous drug users (IVDU). Among blood donors in North America and Europe, the seroprevalence is very low, ranging from 0.01 to 0.03% in the United States and Canada (80,264,399) to 0.002% in Norway (350) and 0.0056% in Greece (370).…”

HTLV-I-associated myelopathy following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

“…The incidence of HTLV-I in the USA is low but appears to be increasing, especially among populations with risk factors of multiple parenteral exposure. 3 The prevalence among volunteer blood donors is 0.018%. 3 We report a case of a patient who developed HAM following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT).…”

“…3 The prevalence among volunteer blood donors is 0.018%. 3 We report a case of a patient who developed HAM following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). To our knowledge, this is the first reported example of such a complication occurring after BMT.…”